In their primes: KG or Kobe?

[Vox_Populi]

Difficult question considering their positions. But I think I'd rather have Kobe. He'd always had more help than KG, but there's probably a case to be made that scoring at his volume at around league average efficiency is still the most valuable skill in the NBA.

[Kane3387]

KG. He brought more to the table imo

[Boris Badenov]

Re: Gasol vs Kobe

What I remember in that 2010 series is not Kobe raining daggers, but the Celts getting dominated in the paint, especially on the boards. 

When it came down to it, the Lakers got lots of offensive rebounds and scored inside.  The old Celts got by on defensive grit and timely shot making, but the Lakers had the size.  Artest, Bynum, Odom all played a part in that, but Gasol was the real killer.

Sure but if we'd lost to the 1996 Bulls we'd probably complain about not having someone who could stop MJ. There's always a reason you lose when you lose.

Ultimately, KG vs Kobe is about the appliest-to-orangiest comparison you can cook up. I'm content to leave it at the level of "this is what my gut tells me" without getting too far into the weeds, statistical or otherwise.

[Boris Badenov]

That said I'm giving a TP to the OP for the thread idea. It sure beats another discussion about Perry Jones's potential, tell you that much.

[nickagneta]

Prime Kobe scored about 10 PPG more than prime KG but only because he took more shots. Their shooting efficiency numbers, offensive rating and assists per game were about the same. KG had about 8 RPG more than Kobe (Do people forget that prime KG led the league in rebounding 4 straight seasons?) and a defensive rating that was over 10 points lower than Kobe's.

To me there's no question Prime KG over Prime Kobe. Scoring more points doesn't always equate to better player and in my opinion people don't put enough emphasis on defense and rebounding when discussing these things.

[Celtics17]

I couldnt agree more! I'm not sure why people discount defense and rebounding either. Almost any discussion about championship teams stresses defense. Kobe may have been a good individual defender I'm not sure but there is no way he has the impact that KG had.

[SHAQATTACK]

KG. He brought more to the table imo

TP

There you go

KG was ALWAYS and for most TEAM FIRST

Kobe ......"loves only Kobe

[LarBrd33]

KG won a title with lesser players than Kobe.  I take KG in his prime.

[Jon]

I still say Kobe, but again I ask, if KG played the first 8 season of his career with Shaq in his prime and Kobe had played in Minnesota, how many titles would each of them have won over their career? 

And then would Kobe be such the "obvious" choice? 

[PhoSita]

Re: Gasol vs Kobe

What I remember in that 2010 series is not Kobe raining daggers, but the Celts getting dominated in the paint, especially on the boards. 

When it came down to it, the Lakers got lots of offensive rebounds and scored inside.  The old Celts got by on defensive grit and timely shot making, but the Lakers had the size.  Artest, Bynum, Odom all played a part in that, but Gasol was the real killer.

Sure but if we'd lost to the 1996 Bulls we'd probably complain about not having someone who could stop MJ. There's always a reason you lose when you lose.

Right, but in your example we'd be losing because we had nobody to stop the other team's agreed-upon best player.  So I'm not sure it really answers the point I was making, since I was pointing out support for the Gasol argument.

Anyway, I don't necessarily disagree with you.  I think Kobe is an easily defended choice.  I just think that if KG had better teammates earlier in his career, more people would think of him on the same level as Kobe, at the very least, if not above him.

[Csfan1984]

I'll take Kobe every time just to sell tickets. That's right call me a sell out. I want Kobe to fill the stands and make me rich!